Titans Receive At-Large Bid To NCAA Championship

A fifth-place finish at the Midwest Regional and noticeable results from throughout the season earned the UW-Oshkosh men's cross country team an at-large entry in the NCAA Division III Championship that will be held Saturday (Nov. 20) at the Max Cross Country Course in Waverly, Iowa.

Thirty-two teams were selected by the NCAA on Sunday (Nov. 14) to participate in the championship. The top two, seven-person teams automatically qualified from each of the eight regions, while 16 additional squads were selected at-large. The national meet also includes 56 individuals who were not a part of a qualifying team.

Receiving automatic bids to the championship were Calvin College (Mich.), Centre College (Ky.), Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges (Calif.), Dickinson College (Pa.), Grinnell College (Iowa), Haverford College (Pa.), Luther College (Iowa), Lynchburg College (Va.), Massachusetts Institute of Technology, defending national champion North Central College (Ill,), St. Lawrence University (N.Y.), State University of New York-Geneseo, UW-Platteville, Wabash College (Ind.), Willamette University (Ore.) and Williams College (Mass.).

UW-Oshkosh sealed its at-large invitation with a strong performance at the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional held Saturday (Nov. 13) at the Saukie Golf Course in Rock Island, Ill. North Central College captured the team title with 37 points, while UW-Platteville finished second with 86, UW-Stevens Point third with 114, Washington University (Mo.) fourth with 122 and UW-Oshkosh fifth with 173. UW-Stevens Point and Washington University also received an at-large bid to the championship.

UW-Oshkosh, ranked 14th in the NCAA Division III by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, will be appearing at the NCAA Division III Championship for the 20th time in school history. The Titans have 14 top 10 finishes on their resume, including first-place listings in 1988, 1989, 1990 and 2002. UW-Oshkosh finished third at the championship in 1987, 1991 and 2000.

UW-Oshkosh is expected to be led in the championship's 8,000-meter race by Nate Stymiest (Jr. • Oconto Falls). Stymiest has run at two previous championships, finishing 209th in 2009 and 59th in 2008.

The Titans will also be represented at the meet by John Dewitt (So. • Oshkosh), Erik Hofferber (Fr. • Neenah), Mike Jarchow (Jr. • Oshkosh), Jake Keehan (Jr. • Green Bay), Jordan King (So. • Stevens Point) and William Koepp (Sr. • Lake Nebagamon).